Cementitious surface finishing tool system

ABSTRACT

A modular tool for imparting profile characteristics into fluent cementitious material. The tool has an elongated base forming a permanently fixed blade, and at least one handle. The blade is configured to act as a dovetail to which any of several modular blades may frictionally fit in removable fashion. The fixed blade forms a deflector disposed to deflect removed cementitious material away from the handles. Other blades may fit by peg and socket engagement. The tool may have detachable rollers enabling the tool to advance at a controlled elevation along a wall being formed and shaped. A slide block may be arranged to engage the rollers so as to adjust their position on the tool. The tool may have integral bubble levels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tools for finishing cementioussurfaces, such as uncured cement, and more particularly, for impartingdesired profile characteristics to uncured or partially curedcementitious surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swimming pools are typically formed from cementitious materials whichare applied in a thick liquid state and allowed to cure or harden into adesired final configuration. Pools have both regular and somewhatirregular configurational features, such as curved and straight surfaceswhich must be formed to the desired shape or profile, and also makesmooth transitions in various places from curved to straight or planarsurfaces. The cementitious constituent material must usually be handworked to achieve final desired surface configurations because ofperiodic variation in surface contours.

This is a challenging task. For one thing, vertical walls must bemodified to include among other features, horizontal grooves, periodicrecesses, and other shapes. Many of these features extend along asignificant length if not the full length of the pool wall. Care must betaken to avoid waviness of horizontal lines and planes as these shapesare formed in the unfinished wall, to maintain constant or unvaryingheight of grooves and other features along their length, and to maintaindepth of grooves as the grooves project into the wall, to name a few ofthe situations that confront the craftsman charged with finishing aswimming pool.

There exists a need for tools which are particularly suited foraccomplishing these goals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above needs by providing a modulartool or, referring to the base tool and its removable modules, a modulartool system which is particularly adapted to impart desired form tovertical and horizontal pool surfaces. The base or fundamental componentis a structural frame having one or more handles, an elongated body forreceiving blades and other shape imparting elements, rollers forsupporting the base component from a suitable pool surface, and levelsfor enabling the user to maintain vertical and horizontal orientation ofthe tool.

It is an object of the invention to provide a modular tool that isadaptable to the various shapes which must be formed in softcementitious materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a module tool which isreadily held at appropriate orientations and levels at various surfacesof a swimming pool.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the base component of the novel toolsystem.

FIG. 2 is an environmental side view of the novel tool in use, and isshown partly in cross section.

FIG. 3 is an exploded detail view of the base component of FIG. 1, showntogether with a modular blade.

FIG. 4 is an environmental side view of the novel tool in use with amodular blade attached, and is shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 5 is an environmental side view of a groove which may be formed ina wall by the novel modular tool.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the novel modular tool, shown with severaloptional modular working elements assembled to the base component.

FIG. 7 is an environmental side view of a groove and a top step whichmay be formed in a wall by the novel modular tool.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a mobile component seen towards thecenter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the base component shown inFIG. 1, with a modular roller device.

FIG. 10 is shows a second modular roller device which is usable with thebase component shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modular blade which is usable with the basecomponent of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the modular blade shown at the bottom right ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is an environmental perspective view of the novel modular toolin use.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the modular tool showing twoadditional modular working elements which may be removably attached tothe base component.

FIG. 15 is an end view of an optional working element usable with thebase component.

FIG. 16 is an end view of another optional working element usable withthe base component.

FIG. 17 is an end view of still another optional working element usablewith the base component.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan detail view of a bubble level seen at thelower right of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect of theinvention, there is shown an elongated base 12 for a modular tool system10 (not shown in its entirety in FIG. 1) for imparting profilecharacteristics or otherwise forming surfaces of uncured or partiallycured cementitious materials used to fabricate walls and other surfacesof swimming pools (not shown) for example. Of course, swimming pools areonly one example of objects which may be constructed from cementiousmaterials. Cementitious materials may include cement, concrete, plaster,mortar, grout, and similar substances which are typically prepared fromgranulated raw materials, mixed with water, and which assume a thick,fluid condition, and which ultimately cure or harden into a hard,inflexible solid. The modular tool system 10 is intended to impartsurface features into walls and other surfaces when the cementitiousmaterial is sufficiently fluid to flow responsive to application of atrowel or like tool (not shown), yet sufficiently viscous or solid so asto hold its form after being shaped with a trowel or like tool.

The base 12 may comprise an elongated platform 14 which bears aplurality of handles 16, 18, 20, 22 projecting therefrom. The handles16, 18, 20, 22 may be regarded as principals handles, which are spacedapart from one another, which may be parallel to one another, and whichare arranged to occupy a plane which extends along the length of theplatform 14. In addition to the principal handles 16, 18, 20, 22, thatside 24 of the platform 14 which is opposed to a permanent blade 26which is permanently fixed to the platform 14 may be rounded, as seen inend view. The side 24 of the platform 14 may serve as an auxiliaryhandle due to comfort afforded to grip of the platform 14 at the roundedside 24, to overall thickness of the platform 14, and otherconfigurational and dimensional characteristics of the side 24. It willbe seen that the principal handles 16, 18, 20, 22 are oriented topresent a hand gripping position which is at a generally right angle tothe hand gripping position presented by the auxiliary handle establishedby the rounded side 24.

The platform 14 and the permanent blade 26 are shown as integral andcould be fabricated integrally, but of course could also be fabricatedas two components which are subsequently fixed to one another. For thisreason, the terms base 12 and platform 14 may be employedinterchangeably herein. It will be seen that the platform 14 andpermanent blade 26 collectively form a dovetail for engaging othercomponents of the modular tool 10, as will be explained hereinafter. Thepermanent blade 26 has not only a working edge 28 which could beutilized to scrape a large surface, but also curvature culminating in asurface 30 which projects generally at a perpendicular angle to thatportion of the permanent blade 26 which is proximate the working edge28. The surface 30 serves as a deflector which is disposed to deflectcementitious material waste which as been scraped by the permanent blade26 from the fluent cementitious material away from the principal handles16, 18, 20, 22. It will be appreciated that the underside surface 32 ofthe permanent blade 26 could be utilized for smoothing cementitioussurfaces being worked.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary cementitious wall 2 being worked by themodular tool 10. The modular tool 10 is shown being grasped by twoprincipal handles 16, 20 and held in a vertical orientation. In thisorientation, the modular tool 10 may be moved horizontally along thewall 2, for smoothing, final scraping, or similar operations.

It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such ashorizontal, vertical refer to the subject drawing as viewed by anobserver. The drawing figures depict their subject matter inorientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes inthe way the novel modular tool 10 is grasped. Therefore, orientationalterms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes ofdescription, and do not limit the invention or its component parts inany particular way.

FIG. 3 shows a first removable blade 34 which is removably engageablewith the dovetail of the permanent blade 26. The first removable blade34 has opposed canted walls 36, 38 joined to a central panel 40 whichcollectively form a socket which envelops and is retained on thedovetail. A blade member 42 projects from the joint of the canted wall38 and the central panel 40.

FIG. 4 shows the first removable blade 34 in use. The modular tool 10 isdepicted as being grasped by the principal handles 16, 22, and in usewould be moved horizontally. The blade member 42 projects into thefluent cementitious material of the wall 2. Referring to FIG. 5, thiswill result in a groove 4 being formed in the wall 2.

FIG. 6 shows the first removable blade 34 and also a removable stepforming blade 44 attached to the base 12 for simultaneously forming twofeatures in a wall such as the wall 2. These features include the groove4 and also steps defined by a shoulder 3 and the upper flat surface 5shown in FIG. 7. The step forming blade 44 has a stepped configurationfor forming steps, such as that formed by the shoulder 3 and the upperflat surface 5. The step forming blade 44 will be understood to includea connector for removably engaging the dovetail of the platform 14 andthe permanent blade 26. Although details are not visible in FIG. 7, theconnector may comprise an arrangement similar in structure and functionto the socket arrangement of the first removable blade 34, for example.

Frictional retention on the dovetail is not the only way to mountmodular blades and other working tools to the base 12. Returning to FIG.1, the base 12 is seen to have a groove 46 extending along at least partof the length of the base 12. A slide block 48 may be slidably mountedwithin the groove 46 and entrapped therein. The slide block or block 48may comprise a connector for receiving and removably retaining accessorydevices which may be temporarily attached to the base 12. As depicted,the connector may comprise a hole 50 which receives a corresponding peg(not shown) of an accessory device, and retains the peg by friction.Other types of connectors (not shown) may of course also be employed.

The block 48 may be configured as shown in FIG. 8, having an enlargedbase member 52. The groove 46 may be a T-slot or tee shaped groove whichcooperatively receives the block 48 and retains the block 48 byinterference while still permitting sliding of the block 48 along thegroove 46. The block 48 may comprise a lock such as a setscrew 52 havinga winged head 54 which may be grasped and rotated to tighten anduntighten the threads of the setscrew 52. Tightening of the setscrew 52may lock the block 48 in place by engaging a surface of the base 12 forexample, thereby providing a lock which is disposed to releasably holdthe block 48 at a selected position along the groove 46.

FIG. 9 illustrates an accessory device which is usable with the modulartool 10. In this example, the accessory device is a roller arrangement56 including a rod 58 serving as an axle, a roller 60 rotatably mountedon the axle, and a first extension section 62 of the axle 58. Theextension section 62 terminates in a peg section 64 which is dimensionedand configured to connect to the block 48 by engaging the hole 50 byfriction. The roller arrangement enables the tool to be guided whenbeing moved horizontally as depicted in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6. That is, withthe roller 60 resting on the upper surface of the wall 2, the modulartool 10 is supported by the roller arrangement to move at an unvaryingelevation relative to the wall 2. Hence the user is free to concentrateonly minimally on controlling elevation of the modular tool 10 and henceto focus on forming the features of the wall 2 which are shaped by thevarious blades and working surfaces of the modular tool 10.

FIG. 10 shows a variation on the roller arrangement of FIG. 9. In FIG.10, a rod 66 supports two rollers 68, 70, and additional rollers (notshown) if desired, in tandem. The tandem arrangement enables the tworollers 68, 70 to roll simultaneously along the same flat surface in acommon plane, thereby opposing any tendency of the modular tool 10 toswing or tilt as it is moved horizontally along the wall 2. The rod 66may comprise a stem 72 which is a counterpart of the extension section62, a cross piece 74 fixed to the stem 72, a first axle 76 whichrotatably supports the roller 68 and a second axle 78 which rotatablysupports the roller 70, and a peg section 80 which may be the structuraland functional equivalent of the peg section 64 of FIG. 9. FIG. 13 showsthe roller arrangement of FIG. 10 in use, attached to the modular tool10.

FIG. 13 also illustrates deflection of removed cementitious material(not shown). Any cementitious material which is scraped from the wall 2,such as that which must be removed in order to form the groove 4, willbe intercepted and redirected downwardly as depicted by an arrow 92 inFIG. 13 away from the principal handles 16, 18, 20, 22 before the user'shands become fouled by contact with such removed cementitious material.

Working elements of the modular tool 10 such as the permanent blade 26and the removable blade 34 may be supplemented by other workingelements. Illustratively, and referring to FIG. 11, additional modularworking elements may include a second removable blade 82. The secondremovable blade 82 may be generally similar in purpose and method ofoperation as the first removable blade 34, apart from dimensions of therespective blade sections. The second removable blade 82 may have socketstructure which slidably surrounds and engages the dovetail of the base12 in a manner like that of the first removable blade 34. However, thesecond removable blade 82 has a configuration which is different fromthat of the first removable blade 34. As seen by comparing FIGS. 11 and12, the blade member 42 may have a width (indicated by an arrow 84) anda depth (indicated by an arrow 86) which differ from corresponding width(indicated by an arrow 88) and depth (indicated by an arrow 90) of theblade member 92 of the second removable blade 82.

FIG. 14 shows two additional modular working elements of the modulartool 10. A groove cutting module 94 may be removably attached to thebase 12 by a peg 96 adapted to be received and retained by frictionwithin a hole 98. The groove cutting module 94 may have a handle 100,and an attachment arm comprising an adjustably positioned rod 102 bothmounted to an enlargement 104. The rod 102 may terminate in a connectoror fitting 106 which is received in a socket 108 located at the proximalend of a blade holding rod 110. The blade holding rod 110 may have afirst leg 112 which projects laterally from the rod 102, and at itsdistal end, a second leg 114 disposed at a perpendicular angle to thefirst leg 112 so as to face downwardly as depicted in FIG. 14. A blademember 116 may be fixed to the distal end of the second leg 114 suchthat the blade member 116 i is arranged to project downwardly when themodular tool 10 is held in a vertical orientation, such as theorientation of FIGS. 2 and 4. It follows that with the groove cuttingmodule 94 assembled, when the modular tool 10 is positioned as shown inFIG. 4, the groove cutting module 94 will generate a groove (not shown)which would be parallel to the step which includes the shoulder 3 shownin FIG. 7, but which projects downwardly into the upwardly facingsurface of the wall 2.

Another working element shown in FIG. 14 is a removable trough cuttingmodule 118 having a trough cutting blade 120 and a connector which isremovably engageable with the base 12 of the modular tool 10. Theconnector may comprise an arrangement similar in structure and functionto the socket arrangement of the first removable blade 34, for example.The trough cutting blade 120 may have opposed parallel upper panels 122,124, opposed aligned horizontal panels 126, 128, opposed parallel lowerpanels 130, 132, and a bottom panel 134 which spans the opposed parallellower panels 130, 132.

Additional working elements may be provided for use with the modulartool 10. These additional working elements may have not only straightcutting elements arranged at perpendicular angles to one another, as hascharacterized those working elements described thus far, but rather mayhave cutting surfaces arranged to form curved profiles and shapes, andmay if desired depart from perpendicularity. FIGS. 15, 16, and 17illustrate some curved cutting elements that may be incorporated intoworking elements which in other ways correspond to the first and secondremovable blades 34, 82, or the groove cutting module 94.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the modular tool 10 may comprise a firstbubble level 136 which is oriented to have a longitudinal working axis(seen as a projection line 138) disposed perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis 140 of the platform 14 of the modular tool 10. Asecond bubble level 142 which is oriented to have a longitudinal workingaxis 144 disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis 140 of the platform14 may be provided. A third bubble level 146 which is angularlyadjustable relative to the platform 14 of the modular tool 10 may beprovided.

Turning now to FIG. 18, the third bubble level 146 may comprise a lockwhich is disposed to releasably hold the third bubble level 146 in aselected angular orientation on the platform 14 of the modular tool 10.The lock may take the form of a setscrew 148 which is a structural andfunctional counterpart of the setscrew 54 of the block 48.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the present invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangementswhich are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possibleinterpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass allmodifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible

1. A modular tool for imparting profile characteristics into fluentcementitious material, comprising: an elongated base having a platformand a permanent blade fixed to the platform, which said platform andpermanent blade collectively form a dovetail for engaging othercomponents of the modular tool projecting from the platform, and atleast one principal handle projecting from the platform; and a deflectordisposed to deflect cementitious material waste which as been scraped bythe permanent blade from the fluent cementitious material away from theat least one principal handle.
 2. The modular tool of claim 1, furthercomprising at least a first removable blade which is engageable with thedovetail of the platform and the permanent blade.
 3. The modular tool ofclaim 1, further comprising an accessory device usable with the modulartool; and a groove extending along at least part of the length of theelongated base, and a block slidably mounted within the groove, whereinthe block comprises a connector for receiving and removably retainingthe accessory device.
 4. The modular tool of claim 3, further comprisinga lock disposed to releasably hold the block at a selected positionalong the groove.
 5. The modular tool of claim 3, wherein the accessorydevice comprises a roller arrangement further comprising a rollermounted on an axle, and wherein the axle is dimensioned and configuredto connect to the block of the elongated base.
 6. The modular tool ofclaim 5, wherein the roller arrangement comprises at least two rollersarranged in tandem so as to be able to roll along the same flat surface.7. The modular tool of claim 1, further comprising a second removableblade which is mountable to the modular tool by slidably surrounding andengaging the dovetail of the platform and the permanent blade, whichsaid second removable blade has a configuration which is different fromthat of the first removable blade.
 8. The modular tool of claim 1,further comprising a removable step forming blade having a steppedconfiguration and a connector for removably engaging the dovetail of theplatform and the permanent blade.
 9. The modular tool of claim 1,further comprising a removable groove cutting module for forming agroove in an upwardly facing surface of the fluent cementitiousmaterial, comprising an attachment arm comprising a first leg bearing aconnector formed at one end of the first leg of the attachment arm, asecond leg disposed at a perpendicular angle to the first leg, thesecond leg having a proximal end joined to the first leg, a distal end,and a cutting blade fixed to the distal end of the second leg andarranged to project downwardly when the modular tool is held in avertical orientation.
 10. The modular tool of claim 1, furthercomprising a removable trough cutting module having a trough cuttingblade and a connector which is removably engageable with the platform ofthe modular tool.
 11. The modular tool of claim 1, further comprising afirst bubble level oriented to have a longitudinal working axis disposedperpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the platform of the modulartool.
 12. The modular tool of claim 1, further comprising a secondbubble level oriented to have a longitudinal working axis disposedparallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform of the modular tool.13. The modular tool of claim 1, further comprising a third bubble levelwhich is angularly adjustable relative to the platform of the modulartool, and a lock disposed to releasably hold the third bubble level in aselected angular orientation on the platform of the modular tool. 14.The modular tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one principal handlecomprises at least two principal handles each of which projects from theplatform.
 15. The modular tool of claim 14, wherein the at least twoprincipal handles occupy a plane which extends along the length of theplatform.
 16. The modular tool of claim 15, wherein one side of theplatform which is opposed to the permanent blade is rounded in end view,and is dimensioned and configured to serve as an auxiliary handle, andwherein the at least two principal handles are oriented to present ahand gripping position which is at a generally right angle to the handgripping position presented by the auxiliary handle.